Commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his kind words on behalf of Michigan Technological University. And, Mr. Bishop, thank you also for supporting this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of our resolution, House Resolution 1564, honoring Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Superior on the spectacular Keweenaw Peninsula. Michigan Tech was first chartered as the Michigan School of Mines in 1885 and in 1927 was renamed the Michigan College of Mining and Technology with the added responsibility to ``promote the welfare of the industries of the State.''

The school continued its exceptional educational mission, and in 1963 a new constitution of the State of Michigan renamed the school Michigan College of Science and Technology, followed shortly in 1964 by the name it holds today, Michigan Technological University.

During these 125 years, Michigan Tech has educated thousands of students in some of the fields most important to the development of our Nation, such as mining, forestry, and engineering. The school's mission is to create the future with the vision of continued growth as a premier technological research university of international stature delivering education, new knowledge, and innovation for the needs of our world.

Today, Michigan Tech boasts more than 7,000 students who pursue baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degrees. Michigan, our Nation, and the world benefit from the influx of such outstanding graduates for the purpose of economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Michigan Tech provides an exceptionally high quality of education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, graduating 83 percent of the students in these disciplines, something that will continue to be important as the United States strives to remain competitive in this global economy.

Michigan Tech is ranked nationally as a ``high research university'' by the Carnegie Foundation, with research expenditures of $55 million annually doing world-class, cutting-edge, exceptional applied research. In 1990, the school's A.E. Seaman Mineralogical Museum was designated as the official ``mineralogical museum'' of Michigan with the second largest holdings of any university mineralogical museum in the Nation.

Michigan Tech students also enjoy success outside the classroom. The school's athletic programs--especially hockey, football and basketball--are highly successful competitively as well as academically. Michigan Tech students are consistently among the top in the Nation with the highest grade point averages while simultaneously performing exceptionally well in their respective sports, led by the success of the women's Huskies basketball team, which for the last 2 years has made it to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Still, Michigan Tech has never abandoned its original mission as a school of mines. Right now in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, mining is a very active enterprise and business. We still have two active iron ore mines. And with the price of precious metals being high, there is new exploration throughout our peninsula for mining. In fact, the State of Michigan has just permitted a new uranium mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But as we move from hard rock mining to not only new sources of mining, but a new process of mining too--and we are now going to a process called sulfide mining, which to me has raised many environmental concerns--probably now more than ever we need the expertise of the faculty, the students, the administration and the communities, we need their expertise in mining and engineering so we can make sure that mining continues in the Upper Peninsula as a beneficial endeavor for our economy and for our people without harming our environment.

So I ask that the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me in honoring the students, alumni, faculty, staff and Board of Control of Michigan Technological University on its 125th anniversary by supporting House Resolution 1564.

Under the leadership of President Glen Mroz, Michigan Tech continues to be a leading public university that excels in high-quality education, research, and quality of life for students.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1564) commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1564 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1564, which celebrates Michigan Technological University for 125 years of leadership and service in higher education.

Michigan Technological University was originally chartered as the Michigan School of Mines in 1885 and was later renamed the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. The college was founded in response to the needs of the copper industry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In 1964, as the school continued to expand its academic programs and student body, it became Michigan Technological University.

Michigan Tech students and alumni hail from all 50 States and from over 100 countries. It offers 110 majors in 56 fields of study, and 83 percent of its students graduate in the high-demand fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. With over 7,000 students seeking baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees and a budget of $55 million for applied research expenditures, the school has furnished vital resources for education, expertise and innovation to the State of Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Michigan Tech boasts several innovative programs to help their students prepare for careers in their chosen fields. One of these is known as the Enterprise Program. Founded in 2000, the Enterprise Program allows teams of students from different disciplines to work together to function as a professional company. Participating students work with local industry leaders to solve real-world problems, including the research and development of new technologies. Several programs have gone on to receive Federal grants and win international design competitions. Such programs, in addition to earning a ``high research university'' designation from the Carnegie Foundation, speak to Michigan Tech's commitment to institutional excellence.

Michigan Tech students also enjoy a number of extracurricular activities. The campus has over 200 student organizations, a Division I men's hockey team and 12 Division II varsity sports teams. The college's women's basketball team has made the NCAA Division II Elite Eight each of the past 2 years.

The graduates of Michigan Tech have long benefited the State of Michigan and the Nation and persistently advance economic development and entrepreneurship in their communities.

Once again, I express my support for House Resolution 1564 and congratulate Michigan Technological University on its 125th year anniversary. I thank Representative Stupak for bringing this resolution forward.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today also in support of House Resolution 1564, commending and congratulating Michigan Technological University on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Michigan Technological University was founded in 1885 and is located in Houghton, Michigan. Michigan Tech was established to train mining engineers to support at the time the booming copper industry in that area. Classes began with 23 students and four faculty members. Today, the university's enrollment stands at over 7,100 students and almost 450 faculty members.

Today, Michigan Tech is one of the Nation's premier technological research universities. Students at Michigan Tech can choose from majors in five different schools and colleges, including the College of Engineering, College of Sciences and Arts, School of Business and Economists, School of Technology, and School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. The university offers more than 120 degree programs in these various subjects.

Michigan Tech students also excel at athletics. The Michigan Tech Huskies compete in Division I and II NCAA athletics and have 14 varsity athletic teams. The Huskies compete in sports including basketball, cross country, football, hockey, tennis, track and field, soccer, volleyball, and Nordic skiing.

Michigan Tech's mission is ``to prepare students to create the future,'' and the university works to do just that. Today, 96 percent of Michigan Tech's students have jobs in their chosen field, enroll in graduate school, or enlist in the military by graduation. Michigan Tech has become a premier university during their 125-year history and promises to be a leader in education in the future.

I extend my congratulations to Michigan Technological University for 125 years of excellence in higher education and once again wish its faculty, staff, students, and alumni continued success. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.